ENDP launches five-pronged strategy for 2008

Releasing detailed statistics, the ENDP board stated its unique partnership with private sector enterprises enabled 780 UAE nationals gain employment in the trade and retail sector - the highest over all other industries. This was followed by the banking sector with 620 nationals, the hospitality sector 304, and semi governmental organizations 236 nationals.
While the insurance sector attracted only 17 UAE nationals, nine joined the real estate sector, and 71 were absorbed by various other industries.

His Excellency Ahmad Humaid Al-Tayer, Chairman, ENDP, said: "The programme has been enormously successful, opening new avenues of employment for UAE nationals and helping them chart definitive career paths. The ENDP board is proud of its 2007 achievement and we are confident this year will notch further milestones."

The ENDP board endorsed the 2008 strategy, which includes promoting technical vocations; encouraging diversity of jobs and entry into new fields and professions; exerting greater effort to increase retention rates; raising career awareness among the youth including school students, and focusing on other emirates apart from Dubai.

Azzah Al-Sharhan, ENDP Director, said: "ENDP has been successful in finding job placements for more than 40 per cent of the applicants, with those from Dubai already been processed. The remaining 4,682 applications are from the other emirates. Finding placements for these applicants will be our priority in 2008. We aim to achieve this objective through coordination with the private sector across the UAE."

During 2007, ENDP initiated several programmes in partnership with the private and public sector to groom UAE nationals for employment. These include the 'Retail Mehnati Programme' - the training course aimed at enhancing UAE nationals' work proficiency in the retail sector; partnership with Takamul - the apex body for people with special needs; a training programme in alliance with Welcare World Health Systems (WWHS) for the healthcare sector, and a special arrangement with Beit Al Khair Society to support single income families.

Abdulaziz Al Ali, Vice President for Human Resources at Emirates airlines, and AbdulKarim Al Mazmi, Regional Vice President of BP Middle East, applauded ENDP for its initiative to encourage nationals enter vocational fields and technical professions.

Mohamed Malek, Vice President-Human Resources, Majid Al Futtaim and Board Member, said: "The retention rate of 84 per cent of those trained and employed demonstrates the effectiveness of ENDP's strategies for nationals. This has tactically guided them in their career path and helped increase their contribution to the country's progress."

The ENDP was launched in November 2005 by His Highness Shaikh Mohammed Bin Rashid Al Maktoum, Vice-President and Prime Minister of the UAE and Ruler of Dubai. The programme has identified six sectors with the potential to provide long-term career opportunities for UAE nationals, including real estate, semi-government, insurance, banking, trade and hospitality.
However, advertising, marketing and logistics are among the sectors that seem to attract a greater number of UAE nationals among people applying for ENDP.